Builds Hawkdriver’s 1975 FJ40 Refurb Thread

[Adventure Teq]

Sandblasted. And these are the bumpers and tire carrier I fabbed up about 10 years ago.

 

[Adventure Teq]

Now before I could start POR-15ing anything I had to get these plates installed on the frame. The donor truck used to have a snow plow on it and there were these heavy plates mounted in the areas seen. So they were a tad thin and deflected. I painted the inner surfaces and crudely cut out these scab plates. I've since been educated on the benefits of having ovaled, or diamond shaped plates like this, but at the time I didnt' know any better. Hopefully they don't crack at the weld seams also (wouldn't that be totally ironic), but I'm pretty confident that with only mild trail use that they'll hold up pretty well, and better than risking leaving these weakened areas as they were. Live and learn...

 

[Adventure Teq]

1/4" plate steel I had laying around.

 

[Adventure Teq]

Now before I could weld in the angle iron I needed to POR the inside. I devised this applicator dobber out of a dowel, an eye screw (bent open, then shut) and some fuzzy craft balls all from WalMart. The long reach was essential, particularly inside the enclosed front crossmember.

 

[Adventure Teq]

A little burning POR along the weld seams, but we fixed that later.

 

[Adventure Teq]

And then came the big bag of hardware. A couple of trips to Fastenal in order to get all the right lengths and sizes. This part definitely has me torn. But I'm just not sure what else to do. I looked into devising or purchasing a rivet machine and setting up a forge, but get real... So rather than welding, this was the best option. I tried to oversize the hardware and use double locking nuts/washers and I torqued the hell out of em by holding the head still and turning the nuts themselves.

 

[Adventure Teq]

Weld seams blended then repainted.

 

[Adventure Teq]

And this is about the last of the pretty pictures for a while.

 

[Adventure Teq]

And here we are currently. Some more tear down and ready for another trip to the sandblaster. Got the axles out from under the truck and it's sitting on jack stands looking all trashy for now.

 

[Adventure Teq]

Brakes and axles freed.

 

[Adventure Teq]

What the hell have I gotten myself into?!?!

Time... it just takes time.

My job takes me out of state for weeks and months on end, so it might be some time in between updates, just bear with me and thanks for taking a peek at my project!

Jeremy

 

[UltraFJ40]

You're probably getting tired of the alert notifications of me liking your posts so I'll chill for a bit.

Nice work though.

 

[65swb45]

Welcome back Jeremy!

I wondered about you from time to time. Was just telling someone a month ago about the little Econ101 talk we had back in the day. Of course I can’t forget you, since one of your famous HD bumpers is on the front of my 45!

Leave it to you to figure out another alternative to dealing with frame decay. Subscribed.

BTW, do you still have the pics of my 45 on the waterfall in 2006? My prints got water damaged (seems to be a reoccurring theme for me) and they are the best action shots I had.

 

[Adventure Teq]

Welcome back Jeremy!

I wondered about you from time to time. Was just telling someone a month ago about the little Econ101 talk we had back in the day. Of course I can’t forget you, since one of your famous HD bumpers is on the front of my 45!

Leave it to you to figure out another alternative to dealing with frame decay. Subscribed.

BTW, do you still have the pics of my 45 on the waterfall in 2006? My prints got water damaged (seems to be a reoccurring theme for me) and they are the best action shots I had.

It's great to hear from ya Mark! PM'd

 

[cbmontgo]

Looking forward to seeing the progress. Cool thread.

IIRC, you flew a helicopter over Katemcy back in 2005. Thought it was the coolest thing ever at the time.

 

[Adventure Teq]

Looking forward to seeing the progress. Cool thread.

IIRC, you flew a helicopter over Katemcy back in 2005. Thought it was the coolest thing ever at the time.

Thanks!

That was indeed me, yes sir. Was super stoked to get mentioned in the TT on that article!

 

[65swb45]

Thanks!

That was indeed me, yes sir. Was super stoked to get mentioned in the TT on that article!

I remember that too! Being my first drive out there, and not knowing what to expect, I just wondered if that was part of the legend about how Texans do everything BIG!

 

[Adventure Teq]

Slow progress. Picked up the axle and spring parts from sandblasting. Then spent a couple hours at Mr. B’s sandblaster on these little parts.

Once POR-15’d, the axles will come apart and be rebuilt with new rotors, bearings, and seals. Then strapped under the frame to become a rolling chassis.

Was pretty ambitious and hoped to get this all done while at home, but ran short on time. With the upcoming Baja 1000 trip it might be early December before this work gets done. Just keep swimming.

 

[Adventure Teq]

Smalls

 

[65swb45]

Took a peek at your Instagram page. Thought you might like this pic. A buddy of mine and I spent two weeks last summer bopping around Alaska in his vintage Cessna. We spent almost a week in Cordova, where I was tempted to put a sign in front of my guitar that said ‘will play for fuel!’